LearningFest : Full Schedule

Since 2008, LearningFest has been a signature annual event, providing the Dallas Jewish community an opportunity to sample an educational menu that offers varied personalities, teaching styles, and content comprised of the rich educational resources that are available in Dallas.

The cost for the entire day of learning is $18 (no cost for teachers in Federation affiliated schools) and students with a valid ID).
For more information, contact Karen Schlosberg, kschlosberg@jfgd.org or 214-239-7131.

6:00pm CDT

It's All About Lifting Up Yourself and Others

6:00 PM Carlbach Shabbat Service
7:00 PM Shabbat Dinner

All Ages Encouraged to Attend
Babysitting ProvidedCost for dinner: $13 per adult / 9 per child / $36 family maximum

To RSVP for Shabbat Dinner visit shearith.org or contact Chantal Umana at cumana@shearith.org or 214-939-7325.

Speakers

Rabbi Paul Schneider

Rabbi Paul D. Schneider received his ordination from the Jewish Theological Seminary, and his doctorate in educational administration from Teachers College, Columbia University. He served as the headmaster of Chizuk Amuno’s Krieger Schechter Day School in Baltimore for 29 years... Read More →

Friday November 4, 2016 6:00pm - 7:00pm CDT
Congregation Shearith Israel 9401 Douglas Ave, Dallas, TX 75225

Arts and Culture

1:00pm CDT

What Makes a Story a Jewish Story

What Makes a Story a Jewish Story? In honor of some dear friends, I will share with you my favorite Jewish story.

Speakers

Rabbi Paul Schneider

Saturday November 5, 2016 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT
Congregation Shearith Israel 9401 Douglas Ave, Dallas, TX 75225

Arts and Culture

4:30pm CDT

The Songs of Spain: Jewish Poetry in the Spanish Golden Age

The great Jewish scholars of medieval Spain, living together with Muslims and Christians produced not only works of philosophy and law, but also beautiful works of poetry. We will explore poems of love, comedy, spirituality and yearning. Through these poems will open windows into the lives and feeling of Jews in Spain, and into the very souls of some of our greatest of scholars.

Speakers

Rabbi Mordechai Becher

Senior Lecturer, Gateways Organization

Ordained by the Chief Rabbinate of Israel, Rabbi Becher holds an MA in medieval Jewish history and is currently pursuing a PhD in that field. Rabbi Becher has written three major books on Jewish law and philosophy (one is currently in its 9th printing). He is on the speaker bureau... Read More →

Saturday November 5, 2016 4:30pm - 5:30pm CDT
Sephardic Torah Center 6715 Levelland Rd, Dallas, TX 75252

Arts and Culture History

8:00pm CDT

Jewish Comic Book Characters

Which well known comic book characters are Jewish? Which ones are just Jewish at heart? The answers may surprise you. Join professional comics writer Paul Benjamin as he discusses the variety of Jewish themes and characters in your favorite comics and movies.

Dessert reception will follow. For more information, contact Dotty Fox, dottyfox@adatchaverim.org.

Sponsored by Linda and Steve Blasnik.

Speakers

Paul Benjamin

Paul Benjamin is a New York Times bestselling author who has written and produced comics and video games for diverse properties including many Marvel characters such as Hulk, Spider-Man, and Wolverine, as well as Star Wars, Star Trek, Starcraft, World of Warcraft, the Muppets, Monsters... Read More →

Saturday November 5, 2016 8:00pm - 9:00pm CDT
Adat Chaverim 6300 Independence Pkwy, Plano, TX 75023

Arts and Culture

10:15am CST

Cloning, Stem Cell Research and Genetic Enginering in Jewish Law

Using classical and contemporary Jewish legal and ethical texts, this class will examine definitions of life, humanity and therapy. When does a life start and when does it end? Does Judaism consider it acceptable, praiseworthy or evil for physicians to "play G-d"? Does the obligation to heal include "improvements" on humanity and if so, with what, if any limitations?

Speakers

Rabbi Mordechai Becher

Senior Lecturer, Gateways Organization

Sunday November 6, 2016 10:15am - 11:15am CST
Aaron Family Jewish Community Center 7900 Northaven Rd, Dallas, TX 75230

Arts and Culture

10:15am CST

Genesis and Exodus: Two Models of Jewish Peoplehood

The topic of Jewish Peoplehood raises important questions about the nature of Jewish identity. What is the essence of Jewish identity according to Jewish tradition? “The Genesis Model” offers an understanding of peoplehood as a familial, tribal, national identity based upon the inheritance of an unconditional covenant. The “Exodus Model” offers an understanding of peoplehood based upon a conditional covenant of laws and ethical aspirations. Comparing and contrasting these examples allows teachers and students to find themselves in one of the models and further identify the nature of Jewish identity.

Speakers

Rabbi Andrew Paley

Senior Rabbi, Temple Shalom

Rabbi Andrew Marc Paley is the Senior Rabbi and Spiritual Leader of Temple Shalom in Dallas, Texas. Ordained by the Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion in New York, Rabbi Paley also holds a master’s degree in Hebrew Letters from H.U.C. – J.I.R. and a bachelor’s... Read More →

Sunday November 6, 2016 10:15am - 11:15am CST
Aaron Family Jewish Community Center 7900 Northaven Rd, Dallas, TX 75230

Arts and Culture

11:30am CST

The History of Jews in Comics

Marginalized by anti-semitism and prejudice in the workplace, Jewish artists pioneered the comic book industry that's now the cornerstone of multi-billion dollar entertainment empires. Join comic book writer Paul Benjamin for the origin story of the American comic book business, an industry Jews created from the ground up.

Speakers

Paul Benjamin

Sunday November 6, 2016 11:30am - 12:30pm CST
Aaron Family Jewish Community Center 7900 Northaven Rd, Dallas, TX 75230

Arts and Culture

12:45pm CST

Creating Personalized Judaica

Do you love admiring Judaica in the gift shop windows? Why not create your own Judaic sculpture?! Join us for a clay sculpting class and personalize your own chanukia, mezuzah, kiddish cup, or any Jewish artifact you can imagine! You will have the opportunity to use authentic clay tools to create your unique piece of art.

Speakers

Lindsey Retan

Art Studio Coordinator and Facilitator, Akiba Academy

Sunday November 6, 2016 12:45pm - 1:45pm CST
Aaron Family Jewish Community Center 7900 Northaven Rd, Dallas, TX 75230

Arts and Culture

2:00pm CST

Introduction to Chocolate Hebrew

Chocolate Hebrew is unique crash course in reading and understanding Hebrew. The name reflects a sense of the fun, innovation and appeal of a multi-sensory, non-threatening, intensive class that takes the mystery out of the Hebrew alphabet in 13 hours over five days. The Learning Fest session will present the first hour of the course to demonstrate its potential and its value.

Speakers

Ruth Precker

Hebrew Instructor

Ruth Precker, a native of Israel, has taught Hebrew and related subjects for two decades at many venues in the Dallas area, including the JCC, Temple Emanu-El and the University of North Texas. She earned a bachelor’s degree in geography from Tel Aviv University and a master’s... Read More →

Sunday November 6, 2016 2:00pm - 3:00pm CST
Aaron Family Jewish Community Center 7900 Northaven Rd, Dallas, TX 75230

Arts and Culture

2:00pm CST

The “Art” of the Chasidic Song

Speakers

Cantor Emeritus Don Alan Croll

Cantor Croll, a native of Buffalo, New York, is an invested cantor having graduated with honors in liturgical interpretation from Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion's School of Sacred Music in 1978. He spent ten years as cantor and music director of Temple Beth Torah... Read More →

Sunday November 6, 2016 2:00pm - 3:00pm CST
Aaron Family Jewish Community Center 7900 Northaven Rd, Dallas, TX 75230

Arts and Culture

3:15pm CST

A Bissl Yiddish - Learn Yiddish

No experience is necessary. Nu, come and enjoy!!

Sponsored by Helen and Frank Risch

Speakers

Malka Amster

Malka became the first Judaic Studies graduate from the University of Denver in 1978 & has been an active Jewish Educator ever since. She grew up in Omaha, Nebraska in a Yiddish speaking home and speaks five other languages. (Her parents kept switching languages when they didn't... Read More →

Sunday November 6, 2016 3:15pm - 4:15pm CST
Aaron Family Jewish Community Center 7900 Northaven Rd, Dallas, TX 75230

Arts and Culture